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THE ROMANCE OF 

HISTORIC ALEXANDRIA 



(A Guide to the Old City) 
By 

REV. EUGENE B. JACKSON, D.D. 

Pastor of 

The First Baptist Church 

Alexandria, Virginia 



Prepared Under the Auspices of the 

CIVIC IMPROVEMENT LEAGUE 

of the 

ALEXANDRIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 



ATLANTA, GEORGIA 

A. B. CALDWELL PUBLISHING CO., 

1921 



Copyright, 1921 

By E. B. JACKSON 

Alexandria, Va. 



NOV 21 1921 

V 
©C!.A653031 






^0 I 






TABLE OF CONTENTS 

I. The Founding- of a Royal City 7 

II. The Old Carlyle House and the Congress of Alexandria 9 

III. George Mason's Office 12 

IV. The Old Liberty Hall— The Assembly Hall 14 

V. Old Christ Church 17 

VI. Alexandria Commons — Market Square 20 

VII. Gadsby's Tavern ,23 

VIII. The Second War With England 25. 

IX. Suter's Hill ., : ■ .>.... 27 

X. The Presbyterian Meeting House :....;,....;..:....: .2ft- 

XI. Washington the Burgher ;.;.... 30' 

XII. The Old Colonial Jail :.... 31 

XIII. A Home and a Friendship '. 35 

XIV. The LaFayette Triumphal Tour ....: .37 

XV. The Lee Family ....i : ....: :.... 38 

XVI. The Shadow of Slavery 41 

XVII. Alexandria in War 43 

XVIII. The Marshall House 46 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 

The Carlyle House 9 

Gunston Hall — Home of Geo. Mason 12 

George Johnson 15 

Christ Church 18 

The Old Colonial JaiL 20 

Gadsby's Inn and Washington's Headquarters 23 

Mount Eagle 25 

The Prebyterian Meeting House 28 

Home of Light Horse Harry Lee 33 

The Home of Dr. Craik 35 

Early Home of Robt. E. Lee _ 38 

Marshall House During the War 45 



PREFACE BY THE AUTHOR 

Those who know American History appreciate the position occupied 
by this historic city. Unfortunately the tourist is disappointed in a 
very natural expectation to see many points of general and lasting inter- 
est, for such places have not even been marked. Alexandria has neg- 
lected her greatest asset— her romantic past. Boston was her rival in 
Colonial days, and Washington was scarcely a dream; but neither of 
those cities possessed the historic interest of this home town of George 
Washington. There is a great accumulation of fact and generally ac- 
cepted tradition little known which has not been properly sifted or 
correlated, and this has been used for the first time, to satisfy the average 
tourist. Much has been ignored because only of local interest and unsuited 
to make Alexandria one of the real show places of America. Only out- 
standing facts are given, which to a historian may have a "scattered effect" 
but it is to be remembered that there is no attempt at consecutive history 
of places of note. If her people will cherish the fact that much valuable 
history was forged here, a new sentiment will crystallize that will wrap 
her about in the veneration and esteem of eveiy lover of liberty the world 
over. Alexandria was the stage on which was enacted the history of a 
continent and a nation, and the world's historic figures moved familiarly 
upon her streets. 

EUGENE B. JACKSON. 

Alexandria, Virginia. 

Study of First Baptist Church, 

June 1, 1921. 



THE FOUNDING OF A ROYAL CITY 

Virginia was named after the "Virgin Queen" Elizabeth, and in the 
g-igantic conflict of Cromwell with Kingly tyranny the sympathies of this 
proud colony were with the Cavaliers, Indeed, when Charles I. lost his 
head, the Burgesses expressed greatest respect for "the late most excellent 
and now undoubtedly sainted King"; and his son, Charles II, in exile, was 
asked to become King of Virginia and had actually accepted when he was 
invited to the throne of England. There is little wonder that when Alexan- 
dria was founded by the Fairfaxes, the Washingtons and others, the naming 
of the streets indicated clearly that the people still loved royalty. George 
Washington assisted in the survey. Tobacco was then the most important 
product of the colony, and the original nucleus of the town at the foot of 
Oronoco Street was three tobacco warehouses, later called Belle Haven. 
The "King's Highway" was built on an Indian trail to Alexandria from 
the old Capital, Williamsburg, where a vice-regal court was held. This was 
originally the famous "Rolling Road," opened by the settlers, and used 
for rolling hogsheads of tobacco to market. The British government 
learned to count on Alexandria, and selected it as Braddock's headquarters. 
The Royal governors were of the opinion that New York should be the cen- 
ter of operations. Certainly the troops ought to have been landed in 
Pennsylvania where there were horses and wagons. But Braddock did not 
feel at liberty to depart from his instructions concerning Ohio Valley 
establishments. Later the tide in Alexandria set against the ingratitude of 
royalty, and the marshes still to be seen in the northeast section, were 
called in derision "King George's Meadows," because George III. had 
opposed a proposal to drain them, made in the House of Burgesses. She 
forgot her love for royalty, raising the standard of revolt under Washing- 
ton, and thereafter named her new streets from conspicuous leaders in 
the Revolution. Wolfe street was named after the British General who had 
won a victory over the French at Quebec, unlike Braddock. Wilkes street 
was named after a member of Parliament who had suffered in stout 
defense of the Colonies. Pitt street was named after the British Premier 
who was a lover of liberty. St. Asaph street was named after the Bishop 
of St. Asaph who wrote in favor of the liberties of the Colonies. It was 
in his house that Benjamin Franklin began to write his famous autobiog- 
raphy. So high was Patrick Heni*y held in the esteem of Alexandrians 
that they named two streets after him. In the testing days of the Revolu- 
tionary period she followed loyally the varying fortunes of Washington. 
Alexandria won the abiding love of "The General," as she affectionately 
called him, and Washington in every possible manner reciprocated that 
affection. Indeed Lord Fairfax, a member of the British House of Lords, 
had been chief promoter of the fortunes of Washington, and retained the 



8 ROMANCE OF HISTORIC ALEXANDRIA 

respect of the people of Alexandria as well, but when he learned of the 
defeat of England at Yorktown, by Washing-ton, he withdrew into the seclu- 
sion of his great estate and died of a broken heart. Alexandria is destined 
to be a place of increasing historic interest as the years go by and ought 
to have monuments of the great figures who were her citizens. 



II. 



THE OLD CARLYLE HOUSE AND THE 
CONGRESS OF ALEXANDRIA 

There are a few historic houses in America that stand in a class by 
themselves, and the Carlyle House is one of these. The Carlyle House was 
built upon an Old Stone Fort. There are no records of its birth, but cer- 
tainly it was built by the earliest settlers as a defense against the Indians. 
Within its recesses are narrow, damp cells which tradition says were origi- 
nally used as slave pens and stables for cattle when settlers feared Indian 
raids. Captain Robert Howsen brought some colonists here in 1669 under 
a Crown patent of land, and sold it to John Alexander. There is some 
evidence that the Old Fort was built as early as 1638, thirty years after 
the coming of Captain John Smith. As in Feudal days, the residence of this 
gentleman was constructed upon existing fortifications, and the waters of the 
Potomac washed close by. It was built in 1752 by a leading Scotch 




THE CARLYLE HOUSE 
Facing Lee Street, Between Cameron and King 



10 ROMANCE OF HISTORIC ALEXANDRIA 

merchant, John Carlyle, who married into the Fairfax family. The home 
became a center of social, and later of political influence. He permitted 
General Braidock to use it as headquarters in England's major campaign 
in the South against the aggressions of the French in America. According 
to Washington Irving it was simply a doubtful business transaction with 
an Indian tribe that made England claim rights in the Ohio Valley. Gov- 
ernor Dinwiddle was a stockholder in the Ohio Company and used his 
position to send Washington as envoy to warn away the French. Indeed 
some of the Burgesses doubted Dinwiddle's claim to the disput:d territory. 
The issue in any case was whether the Anglo-Saxon type of civilization 
should prevail in North America, and the capture of Quebec by General 
Wolfe brought the desired consummation. In this mansion Benjamin 
Franklin, Postmaster General for America, consulted concerning mail 
facilities and wagons for Braddock's army, for communication with the 
Governors must not be cut off. Here was introduced to the British Gen- 
eral Braddock the former Adjutant General of the Virginia Colonial Forces 
(in training for service against the Indians) and George Washington was 
thus called providentially to save England from a disaster which might 
have turned the course of history backward. Significant it is that Benja- 
min Franklin, loyal to England now, was to influence the French court to 
send the fleet under Count Rochambeau which co-operated with Washington 
at Yorktown and thereby break forever the grip of England upon this 
Western world. This wily diplomat, later at the French court, is said to 
have hinted to the Bourbon King that by helping the Colonies against tbeir 
traditional enemy, England, he might be able to win back from her some 
of his great possessions taken in the French and Indian War. In this old 
house was written the famous letter, still in existence and signed by 
Braddock and the Colonial Governors in the well-known "Congress of 
Alexandria," urging upon Lord North's government the taxing of the 
colonies in order to actualize England's colonial dream, and resulting in 
the despised Stamp Act. This famous "Congress of Alexandria" advised 
in the letter that it should be proposed to His Majesty's Minister "to find 
out some method of compelling the colonies to raise the proportion expected 
by His Majesty toward defraying the expenses of his service." It further- 
more advised that "such a fund can never be established without the aid 
of Parliament." The aid came with the "Stamp Act." Georgs Johnson, 
town trustee of Alexandria and member of the Burgesses and an able 
lawyer, thereupon prepared resolutions and placed th.m in the hands of 
Patrick Henry, who recast them, and Virginia was set on fire by this fire- 
brand in old St. John's Church. By the strange irony of fate the old 
Carlyle House thus witnessed at the same time the presence of England's 
representatives who precipitated the Revolution and also the presence of 
the men who were most largely instrumental in leading her colonies toward 
tile greatest democracy of all history. The Carlyle House was one of the 



ROMANCE OF HISTORIC ALEXANDRIA 11 

great social centers of Virginia. Carlyle drew around him statesmen who 
came to discuss laws for the country. Besides Washington, Jefferson and 
Aaron Burr were often here. John Marshall, Charles Carroll and John 
Paul Jones partook of its hospitality. Here lingers the shade of James Rum- 
sey, the inventor of the first steamboat, who was encouraged by Geo. 
Washington and whose body licS in Westminster Abbey. On the balcony 
overlooking the river gallants whispered nothings in the moonlight. Leg- 
end tells of Washington's interest in little Sally Gary. As she came trip- 
ping down the glistening stairway her escort George Washington was 
awaiting h:r to take her to a ball. History bequeaths the story that 
Washington loved Sally Gary, but that she loved George William Fairfax 
who was afterwards to own "Belvoir," just below Mt. Vernon. General 
Lafayette was infatuated with the beautiful daughter of General Roberdeau 
who had corns from the West Indies to help the Colonies and whose father 
fled from France at the "Edict of Nantes." Here attractive Eliza Herbert 
trembled beneath the fascinating eyes of Aaron Burr. Burr later attempted 
to pay court to this young lady at her home (206 King St.), and she is 
said to have given him no encouragement but went so far as to spurn his 
attentions. The Carlyle House owner could boast of his own bank located 
on the corner of Fairfax and Cameron streets, which was used by Washing- 
ton as the first Federal treasury, and also a private dock at the foot of 
Cameron street with an underground passage way (still partly in existence) 
leading to the vaults below the Carlyle House, where wines and other com- 
modities were stored, but likely used before as dungeons for Indian prison- 
ers. It seems quite likely that the hired Hessian soldiers, who surrendered 
to Washington at Yorktown, were imprisoned in the old dungeons till work 
was secured for them in Alexandria in laying the muddy streets with the 
cobblestones, still in evidence. Just across the street (northeast cornar 
of Fairfax and Cameron) stands the afterwards famous home, built by 
John Dalton, partner of Carlyle. 



III. 



GEORGE MASON'S OFFICE 

At the southwest corner of King and Royal streets stood the town 
office of the famous George Mason, the ssmi-recluse of Gunston Hall. 
Here it was that he carried on his private business and acted as trustee 
for Alexandria. He early became acquainted with Georga Washington and 
largely influenced both Washington and Jefferson in their conception of the 
government of a state. Probably no man produced works of greater in:- 
portanoe to the human family, during the mighty struggle for American 
Independence. It seems likely that in this little office he consulted with 
the great leaders in perfecting the final draft of the "Fairfax County Re- 
solves," which blazed the way for civil and religious liberty in this Western 
world, and which was forerunner of his famous "Declaration of Rights." 




GUNSTON HALL 
Home of Georg? Mason 



This document, presented in 1774, in the old Court House in Alexandria 
(which stood on Fairfax street, midway of Market Square), antedated 
the so-called "Mecklenburg Declaration," and was the basis of a speech 
delivered next year by Washington before the convention at Williamsburg, 



ROMANCE OF HISTORIC ALEXANDRIA 13 

and was likewise the treasure-house from which Jefferson drew his inspi- 
ration and even phrases, in his fight for liberty, and in framing the Declara- 
tion of Independence. Mason was said to be more religious than Wash- 
ington. Only his clear thinking prevented the Commonwealth of Virginia 
from yielding to her leaders in providing for the ministers of all denomi- 
nations by a general assessment of the people of the state, Patrick Henry, 
in his defense of Jeremiah Moore, a Baptist minister (in 1773) in the 
same Court House, *'for preaching the gospel without license," had prob- 
ably argued the necessity for absolute separation of Church and State. 
Alexandria knew in her councils, thsrefore. Mason, the man who first pro- 
claimed the principles of democracy, and who was potent in the setting 
up of this government, making himself a great world figure. 

The name of one other Alexandrian ought to be foriver linked with 
that of George Mason, and it is none other than George Johnson, who repre- 
sented Alexandria in the House of Burgesses in 1765. He wrote resolutions 
for nullifying in the Burgesses the Stamp Act. Shortly afterwards he 
prepared the resolutions which Patrick Henry (after recasting them) intro- 
duced in the House. He immediately seconded those resolutions, and when 
Patrick Henry spoke the memorable words: ''Caesar had his Brutus, 
Charles I. his Cromwell, and George III. * * * " Johnson spoke strongly 
in their favor. This was Alexandria's share that memorable day. George 
Johnson died the year following, but he deserves a monument. He was 
a great patriot and had the vision of a great statesman. 

The above statement is disputed by Wirt in his life of Patrick Henry, 
though Thomas Jefferson has substantiated it in some of his notes recently 
discovered. 



IV. 



THE OLD LIBERTY HALL— "THE ASSEMBLY 

HALL" 

The "Assembly Hall" of Alexandria stood at the northeast corner of 
Market Square, on the site of the present Clerk's office. The citizens 
of the town often voiced their feelings here in public meetings concsrning 
the great issues of the day. It ought ever to be remembered in the 
annals of th3 town that one cf the Town Trustees, George Johnson (and a 
member of the Burgesses) prepared, at his hom.e on the northwest corner 
of Prince and Lee streets, resolutions (mentioned before) nullifying th2 
Stamp Act (1765) which were presented, with some changes, by Patrick 
Henry in the Burgesses. Hs said to his wife on completing the resolutions 
(for he had determined to present them himself in the Burgesses): "This 
paper may cost me my life, yet it is the truth, and whether or not any one 
sustains me I will not turn back." It is generally conceded now that Pat- 
rick Henry wrote the final draft of the resolutions upon the fly leaf of an 
old law book, but certainly Johnson was one of the two with whom h; con- 
sulted before their presentation, probably knowing his intimacy with 
George Mason. Thomas Jefferson who was present, declares that "Henry 
spoke as Homer wrote," but that Johnson maintained "the learning and the 
logic of the case." It may be confidently affirmed that the eloquence of 
Henry without the help of Johnson, would have bene insufficient to cause 
the passage of the resolutions in the presence of so many strong leaders 
who were unswerving advocates of the crown. The joint efforts of these 
two men triumphed. George Washington voted with them on that memo- 
rable occasion and one vote would have turned the tide, 

Alexandrians met in the "Assembly Hall" to reconsider the Stamp Act, 
and resolved that: "If Boston is forced to subm.it, we will not." Thus, 
before Patrick Henry's great speech in the Assembly of Virginia, the free- 
holders of Fairfax Co. intimately associated themselves with the spirit thai 
led to the Declaration of Independence. An English writer of that tim.- 
says: "Here it was that George Washington, amid the plaudits of its inhabi- 
tants, first stepped forth as the patron of sedition and revolt, actually 
subscribing fifty pounds in support of hostilities. The birth of the Ameri- 
can Union may really be said to have taken place here. (It is claimed 
by some that the Carlyle House witnessed these beginnings of the struggle 
for liberty, with Benjamin Franklin present.) 

Boston's famous Liberty Hall must, therefore, take second place. It 
was in this old "Assembly Hall" likewise, according to unpublished records 
of the "Patowmack Company" (1785) that was held the first Conference, 
probably fathered from Mount Vernon, concerning the navigation of 
Chesapeake Bay and the Potomac River. In this conference Washington, 
scenting the dangers likely to arise from the separate interests of the 




GEORGE JOHNSON 



16 ROMANCE OF HISTORIC ALEXANDRIA 

Colonies, introduced tor the first time the question of a Federal Constitu- 
tion (though this was previously considered informally at Mount Vsrnon.) 
This conference adjourned to meet at Annapolis the following Fall (1786) 
and only because of a minority representation there the subsequent con- 
vention nict at Philadelphia. Alexandria rightly claims, therefore, to be 
"the Cradle of the Constitution." It is a matter of not a little pride his- 
torically that the Carlyle Hcuse witnessed the first suggestion of Colonial 
taxation, and that the old "Assembly Hall" of the town witnessed the first 
concerted movement against British tyranny, as well as the beginning and 
development of the feeling that led to the Declaration of Independence. 
All this was crowned by the crystallization, in meeting here, of a senti- 
m-ent that .resulted in the making of our Constitution. It seems likely 
that in the early part of last century, when Alexandria was part of the 
District of Columbia, that the "Assembly Hall" witnessed the historic 
occasion of a gathering of Alexandrians to protest to the government at 
Washington, against the institution of slavery. The Federal authorities 
failed to heed this voice from the home town of Washington and Mason, 
but preferred rather to compromise; and later, by the logic of events, 
Alexandria was forced, with Virginia, into the position of defending by war 
a system which her leaders had always disapproved. 



V. 



OLD CHRIST CHURCH 

"The Church at Alexandria" was the title originally given this famous 
old building, and the place where Washington worshipped, since the 
World War, is of universal interest, if we may judge by the crowds that 
come, many from the ends of the earth. General Pershing visited it in 
October, 1920. Washington was a member of its vestry for a brief time 
in 1765. He was interested in the construction of this Church of England, 
but at the same time he was ready to subscribe to the buildings of non- 
conforming congregations, in Alexandria. It must be remembered that 
before and after the Revolution this was the place of worship for most 
of the landed gentry of this vicinity (along with the Pohick Church), 
though after the Revolution, John Esten Cooke declares, parishes of the 
Establishment, were naturally under the ban of public sentiment for 
twenty-five years. During the ministry of Rev. Wm. Gibson many of 
its members temporarily attended the old "Presbyterian Meeting House" 
on South Fairfax street. In 1790 Bryan Fairfax, who was afterwards 
Baron of Cameron, of Mount Eagle, became rector of Washington's 
church; and the biographer of the youthful Washington, "Parson" Weems, 
was suggested as his assistant, but did not appear acceptable. Weems 
seems not to have been in the good graces of the ecclesiastical authorities 
because of his "shocking" informality. It is of interest to note that when 
the glebe lands were taken from the Established Church in Virginia, Ed- 
mund Lee (brother of "Light Horse Harry") w^as able to save such lands 
to Christ Church. The glebe lands were later sold by Christ Church. 

It is probable that this church, with others, did not greatly prosper 
spiritually till the coming as rector of the Rev. Mr. Meade (aftei-wards 
Bishop), who spent many years in self-sacrificing labors in the reestablish- 
ment in Virginia of the Episcopal communion. It is interesting to learn 
that ministers of other denominations preached in Christ Church previous 
to its consecration in 1814. A notable service was held here after the 
Revolution, when the last British soldier left our shores, and then was 
read the Song of Moses crossing the Red Sea. The reverence of British 
soldiers for this and other churches, in the two British occupations, was 
marked. 

At the time of Washington's death the bell of Christ Church was tolled 
till the hour of the funeral. An Englishwoman (Mrs. Anne Ritson, who 
cordially despised the city) happened to be in Alexandria at the time of 
Washington's illness and noted how the event overshadowed everything 
•else: "Washington, adored by all, was sick, and had sent to town for Dr. 
Dick, and, 'The hero to his grave consigned, to other thoughts I gave my 
mind.' " The seat which Washington occupied is shown, evidently selected 
that the light from the window might fall on his prayer book. (It ought 
to be said that Washinp-ton's religious convictions, not pronounced, had 



ROMANCE OF HISTORIC ALEXANDRIA 19 

been deepened by his experiences in the Revolution, when often he seemeil 
without human help in times of great crises.) It was very natural that 
Colonel Robert E. Lee, then a distinguished officer of the Federal army, 
should decide to bring his family from Arlington, built by a Custis, to 
worship in Christ Church, and he was confirmed here in 1858. Dr. Ran- 
dolph McKim preached here a most striking memorial sermon at the time 
of Lee's death. The Old Christ Church was taken possession of during 
the first summer of the War by the Federal authorities, and the vestry 
was not reinstated till 1866, Meanwhile the members withdrew to St. 
Paul's Church. During the Civil War the question of using the ritual of 
the Episcopal Church, in which prayer is made for the President of the 
United States, became vital. A captain of Illinois Cavalry advanced to 
the front of the chancel of St. Paul's Church one Sunday morning, and 
finding no attention paid to his injunction to read the omitted prayer, 
began reading it himself. A vestryman seized the first om who entered 
the chancel and threw him over the railing. A squad of soldiers charged 
up the aisle with fixed bayonets, and the clergyman's arrest was accom- 
plished. The release of Rev .Zenzie Johns, the rector, was accomplished 
on instructions from Washington. The "Alexandria Gazette" next day 
gave an account of the incident in St. Paul's, and that night the "Gazette" 
office was burned to the ground by Federal soldiers. This church, with 
others was used as a hospital till the close of the war. 

During the progress of the World War a British delegation headed 
by former Prime Minister Arthur Balfour, worshipped in the Christ church 
made sacred by the memories of Washington. Upon the return of the 
soldiers of Alexandria from the battlefields of France Christ Church 
witnessed a special memorial service, participated in by ministers of all 
denominations. During this World War the enthusiasm of all the churches 
of Alexandria was at high tide on account of the mighty issues involved. 



VI. 

ALEXANDRIA COMMONS— MARKET SQUARE 

This square was a "Commons" and for years had only three small 
building-s, the Court House, the old Jail, and the "Assembly Hall." It 
probably is as historic as the "Boston Commons." Here it was the Vir- 
ginia troops were mustered into service and trained for the great campaigns 
in North America when England and France were in a death grapple for 
the supremacy of a continent. (Washington was sent by Governor Din- 
widdle to warn the French against encroachment upon the English in the 
Ohio Valley, and because they did not hsed they lost a Continent.) 




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THE OLD COLONIAL JAIL 



Washington, as envoy, on this first trip selected a place for a fort 
at the confluence of the Alleghany and Monongahela Rivers, which French 
engineers subsequently chose for the site of Fort Duquesne. At the behest 
of Dinwiddle he set out a second time for the new fort on the Ohio with 
about 150 men. It ought not to be forgotten that Dinwiddle raised the 
troops for the expedition by proclaiming a bounty of 200,000 acres of land 
about thi fort, to be divided among the officers and soldiers. Washington 
wrote this word to Lord Fairfax: "I had no view of acquisition but that 
of honor, by faithfully serving my King and country." On this expedition 



ROMANCE OF HISTORIC ALEXANDRIA 21 

he engaged in the fig-ht at Great Meadows (in the center of which was 
Fort Necessity) from which he was forced to retire because of superior 
numbers, but with honors of war. Washington wrote to his brother Law- 
rence (who was a British officer in England's previous contest with Span- 
ish world aspirations): "I have been on the losing order since I entered 
the service, which is two years." His failures were to become stepping 
stones to great success. 

Washington had bem in intimate touch with these military prepara- 
tions ever since he was Adjutant General of the Virginia Forces, in train- 
ing against the Indians. On these "Commons" Washington, while Brad- 
dock was making preparations, trained the "Virginia Rangers" for that 
disastrous campaign. 

Meanwhile a historic incident occurrrd in an exciting political contest 
between Mr. Fairfax and Mr. Ellzey for the House of Burgesses. The 
young surveyor could not forget ties of blood and friendship with his 
patrons, the Fairfaxes. Washington supported Fairfax with possibly too 
much zeal, and Payne supported Ellzey. High words passed between 
Washington and Payne. Payne, by a heavy blow, brought Washington 
to the earth. Troops rushed out from the barracks and would have made 
short work of Payne had not Washington pacified them. Everybody felt 
that a duel was imminent. Next morning Washington sent for Payne and 
said to him: "Mr, Payne, to err is human; I was wrong yesterday, but if 
you have had sufficient satisfaction let us be friends." Weems says that 
Washington became Payne's ideal of manhood, and certainly his son was 
pall bearer at Washington's funeral. 

Out of twenty men from Alexandria in Braddock's expedition only four 
returned to tell the story. Three months after Braddock's departure a 
courier came riding into Market Square and announced to the hastily gath- 
ered crowd the news of Braddock's defeat and death, and that many Alex- 
andria boys had fallen. Affection was manifested for Washington and his 
Colonial troops as the crowd learned how they had saved the day. The 
former respect in which the British "regular" was held was then turned 
into indignation and contempt, because they had acted (as Washington 
aftei-wards described it) "like shesp pursued by dogs and it was impossible 
to rally them." Three British regulars, ever afterward, were counted in 
Alexandria as about equal to one Colonial soldier. Among the msn of 
Alexandria who returned to be mustered out, probably in Market Square, 
were John Carlyle and Dr. James Craik. Washington was honorary cap- 
tain of the "Alexandria Independent Blues" when he was made Commander- 
-in— Chief of the Colonial Forces, and wrote them not to relax their disci- 
pline, on June 20, 1775. In 1776 when Lord Dunmore, the treacherous 
Colonial Governor, was ravaging the Potomac, three British war vessels 
came within a few miles of the town and the townsmen mustered for defense 
on Market Square. Colonel Fitzgerald, who was probably left in charge 



22 ROMANCE OF HISTORIC ALEXANDRIA 

by Washingrton, hastened with the "Blues" from the Square to a small 
stone fort nearby manned with guns left by Braddock. The flag was to 
be kept flying from Market Square and a militia officer was left in com- 
mand by Fitzgerald. Meanwhile a solid shot was fired at the flag and the 
officer in charge struck the colors. Fitzgerald returned the fire from the 
fort, which was located at Jones' Point and called Fort Columbia, a small 
stone bastion, armed with guns left behind by Braddock. Most of the 
great stones now at the end of Jones' Point are the remains of that 
fort. This fort was the first attempt of the government to guard the 
river approaches to Alexandria, and was dismantled in 1798 when Fort 
Washington was constructed because of the anticipated war with our for- 
mer ally, France. The vessels of the enemy sailed down the Potomac. 
Fitzgerald, learning what the officer had done, indignantly returned to 
the Square and gave him a sound thrashing. Fitzgerald was said to havc 
been specially attached to the young Colonel, having been seen at times 
weeping for fear when Washington was in great dang;;r. He is said to 
have been the creator of Washington's Life Guard. 

An artillery company was gathered in June, 1798 — "The Independent 
Blues" — under William Harper, Captain, to get ready for the expected 
war with France. They were drilled in Market Square, and Washington's 
last military order was given this company from Gadsby's by the newly 
made "Lieutenant General George Washington." Two members of this 
company, Wm. Gregory and George Davis, lived till 1875 and 1877, respect- 
ively, and enjoyed the distinction for years of being the sole members of 
"Washington's own" Company. 

The pillory stood near the jail, but a writer of the day says he never 
saw anybody in the pillory except a negro boy, punished for killing a 
child on the street of the town by careless driving. The whipping post 
•occupied a conspicuous place likewise on Market Square. The executioner 
of such sentences was known as "Bobtail Bowie," who administered a 
lecture between stripes and permitted boys to throw rotten eggs at the 
pri-soner. Tradition says that, among others publicly whipped was none 
other than Daniel Morgan, then a wagoner under Braddock, but who after- 
wards became famous as a Revolutionary cavalry general, and over whose 
dust the government has erected a monument in Winchester Cemetery. The 
Alexandria "Commons" witnessed political gatherings before and after 
the Revolution, and famous preachers of that day discoursed here to large 
audiences. The Court and the Town Council were called together by the 
ringing of a bell suspended on three posts. Previous to the installation 
of this bell notice was given by the Town Sergeant, who made his proclama- 
tion by the beating of a drum. The Court House constituted the municipal 
building. Market Square was indeed the arena for the military training 
of men who played an heroic part in changing the ideals of the Old World, 
and thus stamping the New World. 



VII. 



GADSBY'S TAVERN 

This famous hostelry was as popular in its day with the great kaders 
as is the **New Willard" in Washington City. At first it was called "Old 
City Tavern" till after the corner addition in 1792, when it became known 
as "Gaisby's." It was the stopping place between the North and the 
South, whtn stage coaches lumbered along the King's Highway, (The first 
turnpike was built from Alexandria to the lower Shenandoah in 1785, 
and was known as the Loudoun Turnpike.) In the rear of Gadsby's, upon 
the ground covered by Duncan's stables, were to be found coaches and 
horses and outriders, who had found temporary refuge there in candying 
important personages from Colony to Colony. Here LaFayette and Baron 




GADSBY'S INN AND WASHINGTON'S HEADQUARTERS 
Corner Cameron and Royal Streets 



DeKalb, on their way to join Washington's army, first met John Paul Jones 
in 1777. A writer has told how LaFayette and DeKalb, with other French 
officers, landing at Georgetown, S. C, and enroute to Philadelphia (April 
19, 1777), stopped in Alexandria. The first two could speak English very 
poorly and became mixed in ordering the relay of horses at "Gadsby's." A 
stranger came to their rescue in the person of John Paul Jones, and an 
intimacy was thus formed with LaFayette which continued till the death 
of Jones in 1792. 



24 ROMANCE OF HISTORIC ALEXANDRIA 

Here famous statesmen, unless entertained at Mount Vernon or the 
Carlyle House, stopped over night. Washington had made his headquarters 
in the older part of this tavern in 1754, a year before Braddock's arrival, 
when Adjutant General of Virginia. It was from here that he started 
upon his first expedition to the Western border to confer with the French 
and Indians. The complete lack of success of this expedition led the 
British Government to plan the Braddock campaign. This hostelry wit- 
nessed the first celebration of the adoption of the Federal Constitution on 
June 28, 1788, which is described by Washington in a letter to Charles 
Cotesworth Pinckney. Washington responded to an address by the Mayor, 
Colonel Denis Ramsey, from its doorstep, on his way to his inaugura- 
tion in New York as first President. After its enlargement it entered upon 
an era of great social and political importance. Once it was the scene of 
the famous "Birthnight Balls" in honor of the King and Queen, which 
were first instituted here. These were superseded in 1798 by the very 
first celebration of Washington's birthday, with Washington present. From 
the doorstep of this tavern Washington gave his very last military order 
to the "Independent Blues," just before his death. A French teacher visit- 
ing this country in 1801 speaks of Gadsby's Tavern as "the best in the 
United States." Washington frequently took a meal at Gadsby's when in 
Alexandria, and gave his last order for dinner in these words, after having 
been assured that there was a good store of canvas-back ducks: "Very 
good, sir, give me some of them with a chafing dish, some hominy, and a 
bottle of good Madeira and we shall not complain." 

Here died the celebrated actress of that day, Anne Warren, then filling 
an engagement at the well-known theatre, "Liberty Hall," on Cameron 
Street, just opposite the tavern. She was called the "Ornament of the 
American Stage," and was cousin of the likewise famous Joseph Jefferson. 
Her interment in 1808 was one of the last in old Christ Church yard. 

The room in Gadsby's in which the noted "Female Stranger" died, 
in 1816, is shown today. She is buried in St. Paul's cemetery, with the 
above inscription on her tomb. Some conjecture that she was of royal 
blood, and an attempt was made in "Harper's" some years ago to connect 
her with the daughter of Aaron Burr, whom he mourned as lost at sea. 
Here LaFayette on his triumphal tour of America in 1824, was entertained 
by Alexandria-Washington Lodge of Masons. Gadsby's today stands as a 
silent memorial of a passing procession of celebrities of a bygone day, at 
a time when Alexandria was an outpost of civilization. 



VIII. 



THE SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND 

Alexandria had celebrated in Christ Church the departure of the last 
British "Redcoat" after the Revolution, but she was to witness his return 
in the War of '12. When that storm was approaching she made prepara- 
tions for the contingency by raising a regimtnt of militia under Major 
Lawrence Hooff, Jr. The corporation of Alexandria, always loyal, loaned 




MOUNT EAGLE 

South Side of City, Across Hunting Creek 



the general government $35,000.00 on condition that it be expended on 
defenses below Alexandria, and the militia company was drawn off to the 
defense of Washington City. The defenses at Fort Washington, in charge 
of Captain Dyson, however, were voluntarily blown up, though the com- 
manding officer was court-martialed. The able-bodied men and the guns 
were sent to Washington to protect that city ,and the town was thus 
left without means of resistance. A small part of the militia of Alexan- 
dria, however, was said to have remained under Captain Griffith, and with 
their artillery fought the enemy's fleet with six-pounders till the ammuni- 
tion gave out. When Admiral Cockburn was asked about the treatment 



26 ROMANCE OF HISTORIC ALEXANDRIA 

of Alexandria in case of surrender he gave assurance that private property- 
would be respected. Commodore Gordon drew th^ ships in line before the 
city and one hour was given for decision. In the negotiations Gordon, with 
his staff, marched to the Mayor's office, then standing near the northeast 
corner of Duke and Pitt streets. Colonel Charles Sims, the Mayor, readily 
yielded his authority for British occupation. Plunder was indiscriminate 
but confined principally to flour, cotton and tobacco. The terms of sur- 
render were considered very degrading. Some little stir was made at ths 
wharf by two young captains of the U. S. Navy (Porter and Creighton) 
who foolishly seized a midshipman and ran. Immediately the ships were 
prepared for action, and with probable disastrous consequences, but for 
Colonel Sims' poise in placating the British. He then gave the impetuous 
officers a lecture, calling them cowards for fleeing. Colonel Sims later 
wrote in a letter that if that neckerchief had not broken and the midship- 
man had been killed or carried off, the town could not have been saved 
from destruction. Probably the Mayor's suave diplomacy saved Alexandria 
from the fate of Washington City. During the occasion a launch from 
the British ship "Pender" accidentally sank, drowning several sailors, on 
the site of the Naval Torpedo Station. 

After the destruction of the White House and the Capitol in Wash- 
ington, a plan was perfected to prevent the escape of the frigates, loaded 
with plunder at Alexandria. Captain Porter, who previously commanded 
the "Essex," evidently would retrieve the recent disgrace of running, 
and, together with Captain Perry (afterwards Commodore Perry of Lake 
Erie fame) set up batteries at "White House," an old building standing 
till recently below Mount Vernon, Sharpshooters were placed near. There 
was brisk firing at the fleet but the enemy got off without the loss of a 
vessel and returned to England. Only a cow was killed, and that accident- 
ally, by an American soldier who misconceived an order. 

In this war Alexandria was represented by nearly all her able-bodied 
citizens. There were four companies in service. The War of '12 was 
not glorious but Alexandria played her part well. 



IX. 

SUTER'S HILL S'^^'^^iji- 

It is to be held in mind that there is no Revolutionary history con- 
nected with the City of Washing-ton save only that part known as George- 
town. It is claimed that the selection of the location of th; new Federal 'j 
City was largely the result of a political deal between the North and the 
South. By a favoring word from Washington the Nation's Capital might 
have been placed at Alexandria. Indeed, Suter's Hill had been selected 
as the site of the Capitol building by James Madison, then Chairman of 
the Congressional Committee of 1793, appointed to name the site. Jeffer- 
son felt that this hill afforded one of the finest sites in the United States. 
Washington at that time was President and one of the richest men in 
the United States, owning property still to be seen on the northwest cor- 
ner of Prince and Pitt streets, and likewise at the corner of Cameron and 
Pitt streets. Because of this fact he caused the Nation's Capitol to be ' 
placed on the Maryland side of the Potomac. Though Washington loved I 
Alexandria, yet even for her sake he would not allow a thing that might__J 
be a reflection on his unselfish patriotism. j Washington was known per- 
sonally to have superintended the building of the two frame houses at 
the northwest corner of Prince and Pitt streets. It is to be noted that 
though Washington showed a personal interest in improving this city, he 
never seems to have conceived the idea of laying out broad streets, nor in- 
deed of placing houses with yards about them, but the mistake was not 
repeated in Washington City. 

There is an interesting tradition concerning Washington's "Town 
House" located on the now unoccupied site on the south side of Cameron 
street a little west of Pitt, to the effect that when Lord Dunmore was 
ravaging the Potomac with his war vessels Washington seriously contem- 
plated moving his family to Alexandria to escape possible danger from 
the exposed position of Mount Vernon. General Gage, who knew Alexan- 
dria well, urged the capture of both Alexandria and Mount Vernon, but 
Lord North's government never favored making war on Washington per- 
sonally, as its militaiy officials did on Jefferson, then Governor of Virginia; 
since the hope was still strong that the government might enter into nego- 
tiations with this influential man to save the Colcmies to the Crown of 
England. 

Washington was known to have spent days in 1775 drilling the ''Inde- 
pendent Companies" of the city. Strangely, the entire period of the Revo- 
lution witnessed no fighting upon her streets. 

Suter's Hill has been selected as the site of a great Masonic Memorial 
Temple to Washington to be built by the Masons of the United States. 




"THE PRESBYTERIAN MEETING HOUSE" ' 

(Now First Presbyterian Church.) Fairfax Street between Duke and Wolfe 



X. 



-THE PRESBYTERIAN MEETING HOUSE' 

This building on South Fairfax street was constructed in 1774, though 
restored in the next century after a fire. Before that time the Presby- 
terians held their meetings in the "Assembly Hall," located on the site of 
the present Clerk's office. This building contained the first steeple in the 
city, and the members held their services under a license from the County 
Court, having subscribd to the conditions imposed for worship. It was 
required that their doors be opened and remain open. Presbyterianism 
was founded here before the incorporation of the town, with a charter 
under the Toleration Act. Contributions were made to this and other non- 
conforming buildings by Washington, and he sometimes attended their 
services. 

In October, 1790, an Act was passed by the General Assembly author- 
izing a lottery "to raise the sum of 500 pounds to complete the building 
of the church in Alexandria for the use of the members of the Presbyterian 
Society," and thereto is appended a list of the managers of said lottery. 

The old graveyard of the "Meeting House" is of especial interest. 
Here lies, under the church floor, the body of Dr. James Muir, who officiated 
at Washington's funeral as chaplain of the Alexandria Lodge of Masons. 
Here lies the body of John Carlyle (Braddock's Quartermaster); and possi- 
bly his son, who lost his life at Eutaw Springs, S. C, fighting for the Colo- 
nies in the Revolution. (Alexandria was little troubled with Tories.) Here 
reposes the dust of the grand old surgeon-soldier, Dr. James Craik, one of 
the most intimate personal friends cf Washington in Alexandria, who 
followed his fortunes from the beginning of the Revolution to Yorktown. 
Among the outstanding names of persons buried here are the Hepbums, 
Logans, Lindsays, Douglases, Hunters, Ramsays, Allisons, Balfours, Cran- 
stons, Kincaids and Kennedys. It is extremely doubtful whether any spot 
in Alexandria contains so many sacred associations. 

This church was made necessary by the many Scotch Presbyterians 
who early settled in Alexandria. It was at first under the jurisdiction of 
the Northern Presbytery, till about fifteen years ago, when it was turned 
over to the Presbyterians of the South. It ought to be preserved as one 
of the sacred memorials of the heroic days of our country, as well as a 
monument to the sturdy Calvanists who stood against George III, as their 
predecessors had before stood against Charles I. 

Some prominent members of Christ Church attended here for a time 
after the Revolution, though Washington was not among them. 



XI. 



WASHINGTON THE BURGHER 

Alexandria was the home town of George Washington, and as a 
young man he was frequently to be seen on her streets riding a spirited 
colt. Before he was fifteen he had conceived a passion for some unknown 
beauty, so serious as to make him unhappy, according to his own letters. 
This "Lowland Beauty," is now known as Miss Betsy Fauntleroy, who 
lived fifteen miles below "Wakefield." He complains of his "poor, restless 
heart, wounded by Cupid's dart." Before his marriage, probably at the 
time he wrote of the "Lowland Beauty," he frequently attended social 
functions at the home of his cousin, William Ramsay, in the house now 
standing at' the northeast corner of King and Fairfax streets. 

John Nitingill, an old gravedigger, who died in 1863, often recalled 
for his friends the dignified and stately tread of "The General" upon the 
streets. He used to say that the small boys viewed the great man with 
reverence and awe. Washington always declared that he voted for "meas- 
ures, not men." Alexandria was his postoffice, his place of voting and 
his market. The last vote cast by Washington was in the old Court House 
for Col. Levin Powell, for Congress. Indeed, he was so much interested 
in making this a first-class market that he furnished vegetables from his 
own garden at Mount Vernon, much to the disgust of his close friends. 
He demanded that the weights and measures be tested by the standard 
scale, still to be seen in the City Hall. 

Washington did more than any other in laying the foundation for the 
present very efficient fire department. Indeed, when he was a member 
of the Continental Congress in Philadelphia in 1774, he purchased and 
presented to the Friendship Fire Company the very best engine then made. 
They elected him honorary captain, and in the very last year of his life 
(1799), happening to be in the city when a fire was in progress near the 
market, he leaped from his horse and helped pump the engine. Seeing a 
party of gentlemen looking on, he said: "Why are you idle, gentlemen? 
It is your business to lead in such matters." 

Washington was for a time member of the Board of Trustees (1766). 
He notes in his diary the fact of spending a day in Alexandria (1775) 
drilling the "Independent Companies." Washington had an exalted sense 
of civic pride and did all in his power to make this city a model munici- 
pality. 



Xll. 

THE OLD COLONIAL JAIL 

We may see the spot where the jail stood, and a picture of it is to be 
found on the walls of the First Baptist Church of this city. It was built 
in 1753 and was used for convicts and French prisoners captured on the 
Western border. It stood on the site of the present Police FTaadquarters. 

But curiously this old jail was used to imprison a well-known preacher 
of that period — Jeremiah Moore, once lay-leader in the Church of England. 
Though other itinerant preachers were willing, in Washington's home town, 
to subscribe to the Established Religion" and obey the law against non-con- 
formists, this man refused. The vestrymen of Fairfax Parish, who had 
been elected by freeholders, seemed determined to exercise civil and reli- 
gious authority, and no one thought of questioning a law of the Virginia 
Assembly, enacted in 1643. The law which Jeremiah Moore flagrantly 
violated, reads as follows: "AH ministers should be conformable to the 
orders and constitutions of the Church of England and the laws therein 
established, and not otherwise to be permitted to teach or preach publicly 
or privately." One day some members of the vestry and the rector found 
Moore preaching near Alexandria and arrested him for "preaching the 
Gospel without license." The mittimus (to the authorities) has been found; 
"I send you, herewith, the body of Jeremiah Moore who is a preacher of 
the Gospel of Jesus Christ and a stroller." The young preacher stood 
firmly against a law which permitted such an outrage, and rather than 
retract, he remained in jail and preached, like Bunyan, through the latticed 
door. He attracted crowds by the very novelty of the situation. Wash- 
ington and Mason frequently came to Alexandria, and must have known 
of his imprisonment. No protest could be made against a well-understood 
law. (It is not unlikely this determined young preacher felt that by 
remaining in jail the question of religious liberty would not be ignored in 
the issues of the Revolution.) But a significant thing happened: Patrick 
Henry, who at that time was in frequent communication with Washington 
(on the authority of a well-grounded tradition in the Moore family) was 
brought to Alexandria for the defense of Moore. Hon. R. Walton Moore 
declares that Col. Charles Broadwater, neighbor and friend to Jeremiah 
Moore and likewise to Washington, was then Justice of the Peace. Mr. 
Henry is said to have made, probably in the Court Housc nearby, a great 
impassioned speech, using those traditional words: "Great God, gentle- 
men, a man in prison for preaching the Gospel of the Son of God!" Moore 
was released and told he would not b? disturbed again. 

The record of this event is not to be found in the vestry book of Christ 
Church, Fairfax Parish, yet in 1803 Jeremiah Moore founded the First Bap- 
tist Church of this city as a memorial of his imprisonment, and there has 
been placed upon the walls of that church a tablet to his memory, appro- 
priately inscribed. 



32 ROMANCE OF HISTORIC ALEXANDRIA 

It is probable that Washington heard Patrick Henry's speech and that 
the question of Religious Liberty became a vital one in the minds of Wash- 
ington and Mason and other leaders thereafter. The famous case against 
the "Parsons" had already been won by Mr. Henry. The next year (July, 
1774) the same Fairfax freeholders came together in the old Court House, 
on Market Square, to protest against English oppression. George Wash- 
ington presided, and George Mason wrote and read the famous "Fairfax 
County Resolves." In the "Resolves," significantly, is to be found likewise 
the very first expression concerning Religious Liberty. 

It is curious that at this meeting a letter was passed, written by Bryan 
Fairfax in opposition. Indeed, the few Tories in Alexandria were under 
his leadership. Washington was so influenced by personal esteem for 
the man that he actually urged him to become his associate as a delegate 
to the Patriotic Convention at Williamsburg, and opposed Colonel Broad- 
water, who was an outspoken advocate of resistance. Washington after- 
wards wrote Fairfax concerning this letter: "As no person seemed in 
the least disposed to adopt your sentiments, and as gentlemen advised me 
not to read it * * '•' I forebore to offer it." 

Were not Alexandrians leaders in the movement for civil and religious 
liberty? Was not the speech of Patrick Henry in defense of Jeremiah 
Moore the year before ringing in their ears still ? Was not the old jail 
witnessing that day the voluntary martyrdom of a young Baptist preacher 
who forced upon public attention the question of soul liberty? Was not 
this man here striking a mighty blow for a principle which should eventu- 
ate, with the help of Jefferson, in the first amendment to the Constitution? 

The old jail later witnessed the incarceration of the Hessian prisoners 
who surrendered at Yorktown, and whom the city employed, pending final 
disposition, to pave the streets of Alexandria with cobblestones. The old 
jail thus held those who fought for liberty, and those who fought against 
it. 




W <D 



o 



H 



XIII. 



"A HOME AND A FRIENDSHIP" 

Washington gave his confidences to but few, and tradition tells of 
some near here who betrayed those confidences, but the story is not pleas- 
ant to relate. The first Lord Fairfax will always be conspicuous in history 
on account of his friendship for Washington. There lived a man at 210 
Duke street who, in his intimate association with Washington as a friend, 
likewise never faltered. This Dr. James Craik was a Scotchman and a 
physician, and saw the human side of the immortal man. He had nursed 
Washington, sick, on the ill-fated Braddock expedition into the Ohio Val- 
ley, and thereby Washington was able to retrieve somewhat the disaster 
in the South which the British suffered against the French at Great Mead- 
ows. When Washington was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Colo- 
nial Forces he prevailed upon Dr. Craik to leave his practice and his 
family to attempt with him a hazardous undertaking. 

Dr. Craik's friendship for Washington carried him into untold sacri- 
fices throughout the period of the Revolution. This great-hearted physi- 
cian had charge of the hospital at Yorktown, and though the evidence is 
not entirely clear, he is said to have been made by Washington the first 
Surgeon General of the United States Army. One thing is sure, this 
man knew Washington intimately in his personal life, and it was he who 
reported that, in the disastrous defeat of Braddock, Washington escaped, 
as he believed, only by the "protecting care of a great over-ruling Provi- 
dence." When the Revolution was over Washington rode with his "Faith- 
ful Achates" over the route of that ill-fated expedition. What must have 
been recalled in the intimacy of such a friendship! Very often afterwards, 
during many years, Washington mentions visiting with "my old friend. 
Dr. Craik." Indeed, he claimed the privilege of educating Dr. Craik's son. 
When an unnamed young man was studying medicine in the office of this 
veteran and distinguished surgeon of the Revolution, a stranger to the 
student came to visit the physician. He arrived in a handsome coach, 
with every mark of wealth, "dressed in a velvet suit and carrying a short 
stick in his hand." The youth admitted the stranger and showed him every 
courtesy as to a patient. There was a lively conversation for an hour or 
so. When the stranger had gone the youth asked who it was, and Dr. 
Craik replied: "Don't you know? Why, that is the greatest man in 
the world. That is General Washington, and he was particularly impressed 
by your courtesy." 

When Washington knew that he was dying, Craik was at his bedside, 
and Washington said to him: "Doctor, I die hard but I am not afraid to 
go." Craik pressed his hand but could not utter a word. 

The home of Washington's family physician, Dr. Elisha Dick, is still 
standing at 209 Prince street, and his office building is still to me seen at 




THE HOME OF DR. CRAIK 

Duke Street, Between Fairfax and Lee 



•36 ROMANCE 07 HISTORIC ALEXANDRIA 

508 Queen street, whither it had been moved some years agD. Dr. Dick 
was a Pennsylvanian and at first was said to be infidel in his views, though 
he was a nominal member of ths Church of England. One day he saw 
the "new light" of Fox and became a Quaker. It is said that he pro- 
ceeded at once to the banks of the Potomac and threw his duelling pistols 
into the water. This "pacifist" volunteered, however, to follow "Light 
Horse Harry" Lee against the "Whiskey Rebellion" in his native state. He 
is buried in an unmarked grave in the Quaker Cemetery on Queen near 
Washington street. He was Master of the Masonic Lodge at the funeral of 
Washington, and was likewise a loyal friend to the "Father of his Coun- 
try." 



XIV. 



THE LaFAYETTE TRIUMPHAL TOUR 

ing the tenderest tokens of affect ir tI 1°" P-'^^Pating and show- 

saw Alexandria, in 1777, on h way to "n'w" v'""°" '"^^ ^^'^^^"-^ 
entertained at Gaisby's- and on wt , . ' Washington's army, he was 
in th. house now stand ^g on the sou hwesT" '" '''/ '^ ^'' ''"''''^'"^'^ 
streets, which n,ay well be a memor al thisT "."'^ '"" "'• ^^^P" 
America, and as well a memorTltcThi °^ """"'^ '" 

later in Europe, for LaFav^t e » ""^^'""'' martyr to human liberty 

and washingt^:; us.d\tr;::nt^;^irtrr:ietrAie'°^ 'r "-' 

elaborate preparations for entertaininp- rt7 "".^'^f.^- Alexandria made 
whohadpassedawayaquarterof 'cent I . ' ^"""^ °^ Washington, 
affected by every memory of hi, f'T J^ '"'^°"'- ^aFayette was visibly 

placed on Washington street tst ^rft/'r"'""" ^" '^'"^ -- 
Church, and Virginia sent JrtcL. ? "^ '^' Methodist Protestant 

passed under the^r:h^r frier fglf pCd ^-the't" ^^f ^^"^^^"'^ 
Its wings and gave a loud screech ^hinh J 71 ^ °* '*' "P'^'^d 

Frenchman. Later it became knoj that . " '■'"'"'''"' "'^ *^"^™^ 

With the pleasant duty'oTXk nTpin l'ZZ\Tr''' ^t '"" '''' 
A companion-at-arms of LaFayette General Roberd ""^^ u""' *'"^" 

•..■d .» tt, t„,„„, .L..i,i„. Ti,-„- ,, fc *• S* ""'" '" ""- 



\ 



XV. 



THE LEE FAMILY 



This old city has been clos;ly associated with the famous Lee family 
of Virginia, established here for three centuries. Though most of the 
outstanding men of Virginia lived upon estates, yet branches of this family 
lived here at various time. Aft:r Washington's death General Henry Lee 
("Light Horse Harry") came to Alexandria from "Stratford" in West- 
moreland County (1811), in order to educate his children. (Queen Anne 
had built "Stratford" for his ancestor, Col. Thomas Lee, a distinguished 
officer of the Realm.) But of course the old hero was interested in events 
rapidly leading up to the second war with England. He occupied at various 
times several houses, but certainly he dwelt in what is now the rectory of 
Christ Church, at 111 Oronoco street, and also at 611 Cameron street. He 




EARLY HOME OF ROBT. E. LEE 
Corner of Oronoco and St. Asaph 



was an ardent Federalist and warmly defended his old Chief against the 
political attacks of Jefferson and others, and he was W^ashington's Cavalry 
General. (Some have compared him to Stonewall Jackson.) 



ROMANCE OF HISTORIC ALEXANDRIA 39 

In 1794, during Washington's administration, the famous Whiskey Re- 
bellion broke out in Western Pennsylvania. The Bootleggers of that day 
were treating with contempt a law passed by Congress that year, as they 
do now. The Federal government might have dallied with what was 
rapidly becoming a menace of lawlessness. "Light Horse Harry" Lee was 
then Governor of Virginia, and Washington persuaded his old cavalry 
general to command a body of militia with orders to suppress this mob 
rule. The military argument was effective and the insurgents dispersed 
at the magic name of the old veteran. 

This man delivered the most famous eulogy on Washington at his 
death, in the German Lutheran Church, Philadelphia, using the expression: 
"First in war, first in peace, first in the hearts of his countrymen." When 
the tide of political passion was running strong against the Federalists this 
great soldier went to Baltimore to protect an editor against the threats 
of a mob, and suffered such bodily injury thereby as ultimately to bring 
on his death, in defense of the liberty of the press. Traveling for his health, 
he died in Georgia, though his body reposes now at Washington and Lee 
University in Lexington, in his loved State. When he died he left a young 
son who was destined to be immortal — ROBERT E. LEE — whose mother 
carried him to live at 111 Oronoco street (near Washington street.) Prob- 
ably because of his father's influence, Robert E. L:e, having secured an 
appointment to West Point, received his first training at the Public Academy 
on South Washington street at the r:ar of Washington School, which 
contained a department for orphans of Revolutionary soldiers (and was 
founded by Washington from his private purse), and was the first public 
school in Virginia. Lee later attended Hallowell School, where many dis- 
tinguishrd Virginians received their training. The son became such an 
ardent States' Rights advocate that Virginia claimed his first consideration. 
Lee, then a young Federal colonel living at Arlington, attended Christ 
Church, which he knew so well as a boy, and his wife was directly descznded 
from the Widow Custis, who, as Washington's wife, often attended with 
him Christ Church, after the Revolution. Lee was confirmed at Christ 
Church in 1858. It was while stopping at the Lloyd House (southwest 
corner of Washington and Queen streets), as was his custom, that he 
learned of the commission of the Virginia Legislature offering him the 
command of the Army of Virginia. 

A delegation of grntlemen came from Richmond to persuade him to 
place his sword at the service of the State, and met him after service in 
Christ Church that fateful Sunday. They stood there a long time in earnest 
conversation with Robert E. Lee, who the day before had resigned his 
commission in the United States Army. The ordinance of secession of 
Virginia had just passed, and "Rooney" (W. H. F.) Lee (his son), had 
been heard to say the day before that the State had madi a "terrible mis- 
take," though the people were jubilant. Second in interest to "what will 



40 ROMANCE OF HISTORIC ALEXANDRIA 

Virginia do?" was "what will General Lee do?" "That morning in April 
was decided the issue of a mortal struggle, as much more terrible than 
any known to the din of battle as the human soul is greater than shot and 
shell." The Alexandria Riflemen had just passed resolution to the effect: 
^'Our first allegiance is due * * * to Virginia." Christ Church had long 
before witnessed another decision, momentous in the history of America, 
for Washington is said to have stood on the same spot consulting with Colo- 
nial leaders just before he was offered the position of Comamnder-in-Chief 
of the Colonial forces. 

Just in front of the War Department may be seen the house where 
Lee was offered (not long before his resignation from the Army), th? 
position of Comamnder-in-Chief of the Federal forces. Dr. Randolph 
McKim, the rector, preached a striking memorial sermon on Lee, in Christ 
Church, at the time of Lee's death. General Lee's brother, Captain Sidney 
Smith Lee, lived at 111 Oronoco street, with his father, "Light Horse 
Harry" Lee), and resigned from the United States Navy likewise to join 
the navy of the Confederacy. Sidney Smith Lee was father of a boy who 
was destined to play his part in the Civil War, and likewise to become 
famious in the Spanish War— FITZHUGH LEE (who later lived at 219 
North Washington street). He was confirmed in Christ Church and sang 
in the choir for many years. He happened to be Consul-General at Havana, 
and controlled there an exceedingly delicate and dangerous situation, when 
the battleship "Maine" was blown up. This brigadier general of the Con- 
federacy no wbecomes a Major General of the Federal army in the Spanish 
war. 

•So we have the remarkable spectacle of three men of the Lee family, 
of three generations, at times residents of Alexandria, standing forth promi- 
nently in crucial periods of our history. "Light Horse Harry," Washing- 
ton's "right arm" in the Revolution; Robert E. Lee, who conquered America 
by his splendid character, in spit: of military defeat; and Fitzhugh Lee, 
who ha'd a conspicuous part in ridding the Western world of the last rem- 
nants of the tyranny of the land of Pizarro and Cortez. 



XVI. 



THE SHADOW OF SLAVERY 

The institution of slavery as forced upon Virginians by British rule, 
and the treatment of slaves in Colonial days was thoroughly repellant to 
Alexandrians. Before the Revolution an uprising of slaves against their 
masters had been summarily quelled and the heads of the slav:s were 
long suspended upon spikes over the old jail, as a warning to all offenders 
among them. A townsman of Alexandria, George Mason, was soon to 
write in Virginia's famous "Bill of Rights" that "all men are by nature 
equally free and independent," an'i today this is part of her organic law. 
Immediately after the Revolution, in 1778, Mason, representing Alexandria 
in the Burgesses introduced a bill prohibiting the further importation of 
slaves. Then laws were passed encouraging their gradual emancipation. 
When Alexandria later became part of the District of Columbia a benevo- 
lent society was formed here to promote their freedom, and a petition 
to this effect, presented to Congress, was ignored. Men like Washington, 
Mason, Jeremiah Moore and others would have liberated their slaves, but 
the problem was how not to make a bad matter worse, because of no 
special provision for such under the law, although history records more 
than thirty thousand free negroes in Virginia in 1810. Henry Clay and 
other native Virginians were the founders of Liberia in 1816. 

The attempt of the "Old Dominion" to get out from under the danger- 
ous slavery compromise written in th; Constitution (against the protests 
of the representatives from Virginia in the Continental Congress) amounted 
to nothing. Alexandria's voice was thus silenced and she must submit to 
the slave trade. The building still standing at 1318 Duke Street, and now 
known as "The Norman," v/as used as a place to bring slaves preparatory 
to sale or hiring. Some citizens now living in Alexandria can recall these 
unhappy days. There were no such despicable characters known in Alex- 
andria, however, as those painted in "Uncle Tom's Cabin." The old "Slave 
Pen," as it was called, witnessed the fact that a system had been fost:red 
by the Federal Government r:ndering local opposition vain, and the city 
authorities were submitting to it patiently. Slaves, however, were care- 
fully trained in the truths of Christianity, as is witnessed by the many 
colored churches in Alexandria today. But Virginia had been dwelling over 
a mine from the days of Nat Turner to those of John Brown. In 1859 
the "Alexandria Riflemen" escorted the Governor of Virginia to Harpers 
Ferry to suppress the John Brown raid (an unsuccessful attempt to incite 
the negroes to insurrection and war upon their masters.) The War De- 
partment at Washington, realizing the lawlessness of a situation created 



42 ROMANCE OF HISTORIC ALEXANDRIA 

by this fanatic, sent Colonel Robert E. Lee, of the United States Army 
(and a townsman of Alexandria), to take charge of the desperate emerg- 
ency. Lee had little sympathy with slavery but still less with lawlessness. 
The slavery issue, thus forced on all Virginians, was to precipitate a 
conflict that made Virginia unwillingly a great battle ground, which finally 
settled by the sword what she had attempted to settle in a peaceful manner. 



XVII. 



ALEXANDRIA IN WAR 

The Confeiderate Soldiers' Monument on South Washington street may 
be looked upon as typical of the martial spirit of Alexandria in the great 
sti-uggle for human liberty at various periods of our history. In every 
warTf that history she promptly responded in men and resources, though 
"slackers" elsewhere were not uncommon even in the days of the Revolu- 
tion. Alexandrians were found among the "Virginia Rangers," and at 
least two compani.s of Alexandria Militia made an imperishable record at 
Fort Duquesne under their beloved Colonel Washington, whose headquar- 
ters was at Gadsby's Tavern. The failure of Washington in these expedi- 
tions against the French cause'd the British Government to send General 
Braddock and Admiral Keppel to Alexandria. In accepting his commission 
as captain on Braddock's staff Washington wrote: "I am not a little biased 
by selfish considerations, as I earnestly wish to attain some knowledge of 
the military profession." This expedition contained a number of Ahxan- 
drians. Besides Washington were Dr. Craik, John Carlyle and Daniel 
Morgan. The former Colonel of Virginia Militia, George Washington, had 
been" demoted with other Colonials by Governor Dinwiddle, and now he 
was to save the British expedition in the South from complete anmhilation. 
Very many Alexandrians did not return with him. Washington was honor- 
ary captain of the "Alexandria Blues," and on the 20th of June, 177o, 
wrote them not to relax their discipline now that he was Commander-in- 
Chief of the Colonial Forces. Alexandria furnished her quota m that 
o-reat conflict. After Braddock's defeat it was commonly felt here that 
one Colonial soldier was equal to three Redcoats. Washington himself 
wrote of the cowardice of the British regulars on that occasion, though 
they had once been highly regarded by the Colonies. 

The old Ramsey hous8 (cor. King and Fairfax streets), was the scene 
of much activity during the Revolution. Col. Wm. Ramsay was too old 
to take active part in Revolutionary military operations, but he was in- 
tensely patriotic and used his technical knowledge in placing obstructions m 
the Potomac River against England's fleet. The wife Mrs. Anne McCarty 
Ramsay, cousin of George Washington, was appointed treasurer of the 
town and county of Alexandria for the reception of money for the use of 
the soldiers, and an extant letter notes her sending more than seventy-five 
thousand dollars on one occasion, collected from the citizens of Alexandria. 
Thomas Jefferson speaks of her as one of the patriotic women of Virginia. 
Her son. Col. Denis Ramsey, was an active officer in the Revolution and 
was pall bearer of his relative, George Washington. So it is to be noted 
that when the Continental Congress failed to furnish money Mrs. Anne 
McCarty Ramsay rose to the emergency in Alexandria as did Morris 
in Philadelphia. Her grandfather McCarty was speaker of the Burgesses 
from 1715 to 1720. 



44 ROMANCE OF HISTORIC ALEXANDRIA 

In 1798 there were eight military companies in Alexandria, beside 
the "Black Cockades," a company of half-grown boys. At least one addi- 
tional company was formed in that year, with William Harper as captain, 
to prepare for expected war with their former ally, France. Washington 
allowed himself to be appointed Lieutenant General ,and on his departure 
was given special honors by the militia of his home town. He gave his 
last military order the next year from the steps of Gadsby's to the militia 
of Alexandria. (It was from th; steps of the older part of this Inn that, 
at the age of 23, he had received his commission as Colonel of the Virginia 
Militia, and two years later he made this his headquarters when commis- 
sioned a Major on Braddock's staff.) The ''Alexandria Blues" had a con- 
spicuous part at his funeral, and were under Captain Henry Piercy (Col. 
George De Neale was in command of the militia). 

In the second war with England Alexandria raised several companies, 
with artillery, for the protection of Washington; and Alexandria troops 
under Captain Griffith fought the enemy's fleet bravely with six-pounders 
till their ammunition gave out. 

In 1848 the "Alexandria Volunteers" in the Mexican War returned, 
under Captain M. D. Corse, whose home still stands at 414 North Washing- 
ton street. In the Civil War Captain Cors: became Cblonel of the 17th 
Virginia Regiment and Brigadier-General in Pickett's Division. The fame 
of the gallant "17th Virginia" was honored throughout all the State. 
Kemper's Battery likewise won enduring fan^e at Manassas. The blood of 
Alexandria's soldiers stained many a battlefield. 

/ The Confederate Monument (Washington and Prince streets) was 
erected to the memory of the Alexandria soldiers who fell in a struggle for 
what they conceived to be a correct interpretation of the Constitution. They 
had started for the front from this very spot of May 24, 1861, and they 
had never faltered in following their own ROBERT E. LEE. The Monu- 
ment contains a beautiful bronze figure of a Confederate soldier looking 
toward his beloved South, and it is very significantly called "Appomattox." 

The "Alexandria Light Infantry" entrained on Hrnry street for the 
Spanish-American War. The same company entrained from the same place 
for the great World War, and, together with volunteers and drafted men, 
they received on their return a notable welcome in a special service held 
in Old Christ Church, participated in by all the ministers in Alexandria. 
The reputation of her sons for faithfulness and courage had repeatedly 
been maintained in this greatest war of all history, fought to maintain 
the principle of human liberty. 




MARSHALL HOUSE DURING THE WAR 



XVIII. 



THE MARSHALL HOUSE 

The original walls of this historic building* stand as in the days of 
the "irrepressible conflict." Here was drawn the very first blood of the 
war, which attracted the attention of the entire country to this spot. Relic 
hunters have been busy ever since. 

Alexandria was still in the hands of the Confederates, and both sides 
of the river were picketed, when one day President Lincoln and his Cabi- 
net, with others, viewed the flag of the Confederacy floating defiantly from 
the roof of this building, in this old Colonial city across the Potomac. 

A curious story, well authenticated, hangs about this incident. When 
Lincoln was a struggling country lawyer he employed in his office a boy 
by the name of Ellsworth, to sweep out his office and to do other menial 
work. When the future President was called to larger fields of activity 
the boy drifted to New York and became interested in military affairs. 
(Even before in the West he had gained reputation as a military officer and 
commanded a "crack" regiment which had a national fame.) He was 
elected Colonel of the New York Fire Zouaves, and soon after the begin- 
ning of the Civil Conflict the regiment was sent to Washington for the 
defense of the Capital City. Ellsworth had free access to the White House 
because of his forrrer friendship with the President, and was in the com- 
pany that day viewing the flag of defiance. He said to Mrs. Lincoln: "If 
the President will allow my regiment to enter Alexandria first, I will bring 
that flag to you as a souvenir." The President gave his consent to the 
request m.ade by his wife. That flag was ordered to be lowered, and on 
May 24, 1861, a silent move was made which resulted in the capture of 
Alexandria, whose occupation continued during the period of the war. The 
New York "Zouaves," with other regiments, reached the foot of Cameron 
street by water while nearly all of the inhabitants were wrapped in slum- 
ber. James Jackson, proprietor of the Marshall House, was determined 
not to lower the Confederate flag, but Colonel Ellsworth with a small 
squad of men proceded to the roof of the building and returned with the 
emblem. A shot rang out and Ellsworth lay dead as the result of a shot 
fired by Jackson, who in turn was shot by the Federal soldiers. 

As a climax of this unfortunate episode Alexandria became for a time 
a place of unusual partisan bitterness. 

The then pastor of the First Baptist Church was Dr. C. C. Bitting, 
a Pennsylvanian by birth, but a sympathizer with the aspirations of the 
South, and lovingly recognized by such in the region round about. (He 
was for a time preacher for several congregations.) This pastor was 
subjected to many indignities, even in his family circle, and when raiding 



ROMANCE OF HISTORIC ALEXANDRIA 47 

parties were sent out on the Virginia Midland Railroad the Federal authori- 
ties would frequently place Dr. Bitting- and other leading citizens upon 
the "cow-catcher" of the train, knowing that the Confederates would not 
fire upon or wreck it. 

The command of the "Zouaves" now developed upon Colonel Farnham. 
These rough fire-fighters from New York City were later to receive a bap- 
tism of fire at the "First Battle of Bull Run," They stood face to face 
with the soldiers of Alexandria, who had retired upon their occupation of 
the city, and likewise face to face with the "Black Horse Cavalry," com- 
manded by General Payne (a direct descendant of the man who had the 
altercation with Washington concerning an election, before the Revolution). 
In this terrific conflict, where General Jackson was immortalized, the 
"Zouaves" suffered greatly, and the remnants straggled back into Alexan- 
dria, with other survivors, in a most demoralized condition. It is said that 
as they passed under the tunnel at Wilkes and Fairfax streets an old woman 
gathered stones in her apron and threw them at the panic-stricken soldiers, 
pressing on to the protection of the gunboats. Certain it is that many 
prominent citizens of Alexandria forgot the bitterness of the moment and 
opened their homes to the enemy thus scattered. It is a curious fact 
that in obeying an order to raise the flag of the invaders for the first 
time near Market Square, a young soldier fell to the ground and was killed. 

The Marshall House may be looked upon as a memorial to the greatest 
fratricidal conflict of history, whose bitterness is fortunately gone forever. 

The "Zouaves" became good friends of Alexandria during the entire 
war, though this is questioned by some. These Federal forces learned to 
esteem Alexandrians highly. 



INDEX 

Alexandria Blues at Washington's Funeral 44 

Alexandria Light Infantry in Spanish and Civil Wars 44 

Alexandria Militia, Washington's last Orders to 44 

Alexandria Volunteers to Mexican War 44 

Arlington and Christ Church 39 

"Assembly Hall," place Alexandria made call for Liberty 14 

Balfour, Arthur, Visit to Christ Church 19 

Baptist, Place of in Agitating for Religious Liberty 31 

Bastion, Alexandria's 22 

Bell of Christ Church, Tolling of 1" 

"Belle Haven," original Name of Alexandria 7 

"Birth of American Union," place of 14 

Birth Night Balls 24 

Bitting. Rev. C. C, persecution of 46 

"Black Cockade," Company of half grown boys 44 

"Black Horse Cavalry," their part at Bull Run 47 

Braddock, Gen., and The Carlyle House 10 

Braddock's defeat announced 21 

Braddock and Washington meet in Carlyle House 10 

British Delegation visit Christ Church 19 

Broadwater, Col., patriotism of 32 

Burr, Aaron, courtship of 11 

Capitol, The U. S. and Alexandria 27 

Carlyle, John, Grave of 29 

Cavaliers, Virginia and the l 

Charles I and the Burgesses j_ 

Charles II, Va. asks to be King ' 

"Church at Alexandria" IJ 

Church of Ens'land under ban 1' 

Christ Church, Picture of 1° 

Christ Church, Glebe Lands 1^ 

Cobblestones, Alexandria's Historic ^2 

Cockburn, Admiral, treatment of by Alexandria 26 

Colonial Jail, picture of 20 

Colonial Jail, prison of Jeremiah Moore 31 

Commons, now Market Square 20 

Confederate Flag on Marshall House 46 

Confederate Monument |^ 

"Congress of Alexandria" in Carlyle House 10 

Corse, Col. M. D., in Mexican and Civil Wars 44 

"Cradle of the Constitution" 14 

Craik, Dr. James, Grave of -^ 

Craik, Dr. James, visit of Washington to home of 34 

Dalton, John, home of ^^ 

DeKalb, Baron, at Gadsby's 23 

DeNeale, Col., Commands Milita, Washington's Funeral 44 

Dick, Dr. Elisha, home and office of ^4 

Dick, Dr. Elisha, Services of 36 

Dinwiddle, Gov., and Geo. Washington 43 

Duncan's Stables, site of Gadsby's Inn 23 

Dungeons under Carlyle House ^ 

Dunmore's Raid on Alexandria 21, 27 

Ellsworth, Col., career and death of 46 

Fairfax, Bryan, Rector Christ Church 17 

"Fairfax County Resolves" 12 

Fairfax, Lord, divided affections of ^ 

Fauntleroy, Miss Betsy and Geo. Washington 30 

Federal Constitution, place of beginnings -- 1^ 

Federal Government, aided by Alexandrians in 1812 25 

"Female Stranger," web of romance about 24 

Fire Department ►- 30 

"Fire Fighters" under fire 47 

First Baptist Church, Memorial to Jeremiah Moore 31 

Fitzgerald, Col., patriotism of 22 

Fort Du-uesne, and Alexandria Militia 43 

Fort Washington, building of 22 



50 ROMANCE OF HISTORIC ALEXANDRIA 

Franklin, Benjamin, and Carlyle House 10 

France, preparing for war with 22, 44 

Gadsby's 23 

Gadsby's, military activities at 44 

Graveyard, Old Presbyterian 29 

Griffiith, Capt., fight with British 25 

Harper, Col. William, drilling militia 22 

Henry, Patrick, streets named for 7 

Henry, Patrick, speech defense of Religious Liberty 31 

Hessian soldiers, incarceration of 11 

Hallowell School, fame of 39 

Hooff, Maj. Lawrence, prepares Alexandria for war 25 

Hospitality, Alexandria's after Bull Run 47 

Hosen, Capt. Robert and the original Colonists 9 

Independence, Declaration of 16 

Jackson, James, shooting of 46 

Jail, where Jeremiah Moore preached _. 31 

John Brown Raid 41 

Johnson, George, and Patrick Henry 10 

Johnson. George, work of 13. 14 

Jones, John Paul, at Carlyle Hoase 11, 23 

Jones Point, contest at 22 

Kemper's Battery in Civil War 44 

Keppel, Admiral in Alexandria 43 

"King George's Meadows" — 7 

"King's Highay," Alexandria located upon 7 

LaFayette, at Gadsby's 37 

LaFayette and triumphal arch on Washington St 37 

Lee family, passion for liberty 39 

Lees, the family of 38 

Lee, Gen. Fitzhugh 40 

Lee, "Light Horse Harry" and the Bootleggers 39 

Lee, "Light Horse Harry," home of 38 

Lee, Gen. Robt. E., asked to head Federal Forces 40 

Lee, Robert E., and Richmond Delegation 39 

Lee, Robt. E., home of 39 

Lee, Robt. E. and Virginia 39 

Lee, Capt. Sidney Smith, home of 40 

Lee, Gen. W. H. F 3c> 

Letter, the famous, written in Carlyle House 10 

Liberty, religions 32 

Lincoln and Alexandria 46 

Lloyd House, the 39 

Madison, James, favors Alexandria 27 

Marshall House, first blood drawn 46 

Marshall, John, at Carlyle House 11 

Mason, George, office of 11 

Ma-onic Memorial to Washington 27 

McKim, Dr. Randolph, Lee Memorial Address 19 

Meade, Bishop, labors of 17 

"Meeting House," Presbyterian 29 

Memorial Service 44 

Momorial Services in Christ Church 17, 19 

Mf^xican War and Alexandria '. 44 

Military Operations, against French 7 

Moore, Jeremiah, imprisoned for preaching 31 

Moore, Jeremiah, defended by Patrick Henry 13 

Morgan, Daniel, reputed whipping of 22 

Mount Vernon, family and town house 27 

Muir, Dr. James, grave of -- 29 

Nitingill, John, the old grave digger__-- 30 

"Ohio Expedition" 7 

Perry, Commodore, engagement near Alexandria 26 

Persecution in Alexandria 4€ 

Piercy, Capt. Henry at Washington's funeral 44 

Pillory in Market Squai-e -- 22 

Pitt Street, named 7 

Porter, Capt., folly of 26 



ROMANCE OF HISTORIC ALEXANDRIA 51 

Powell, Col. Levin, Washington votes or 30 

Preachers, famous on Market Square 22 

Prebyterians and the Revolution 29 

Presbyterianism established 29 

"Presbyterian Meeting House" 29 

Ramsey. Mrs. Ann McCarty. zeal of 43 

Ramsey, Col. Denis 24 

Ramsey House 43 

Ramsey, Col. William, work of 43 

Rangers, Virginia 21, 43 

Red Coat, British and Alexandria 43 

"Red Tape," Braddock the victim of 7 

Regular, British, cowardice of 43 

Religious Liberty in Alexandria 32 

Religious Liberty, question of 31 

Revolt of Alexandria — 7 

"Riflemen," the Alexandria 40 

Ritson, Mrs. Anne, the observations of — 17 

Roberdeau. Gen., fami'y of 37 

Roberdcau in Carlyle House 11 

"Rolling Road," for tobacco -- 7 

Royal City, Alexandria 7 

Rumsey, James, and Washington 11 

St. Asaph, Street, naming of 7 

St. Paul'st Church, clash with soldiers in _ 19 

Scales, old standard in City Hall — 30 

Sims, Maior Charles, diplomacy of 26 

Slave Pen — 41 

Slavery, Alexandria's attitude to 41 

Slavery, British policy in Alsxandria -- 41 

Slavery, Virginia's attitude toward 41 

Social Life in Alexandria — 11 

Soldiers, in Civil War ^ 47 

Spanish War and Alexandria — 44 

Snter's Hill, proposed site U. S. Capito! 27 

Tories, British, under Bryan Fairfax 32 

Town House of Washington 27 

War, Alexandria in 44 

Warren. Anne, death of in Gadsby's — 24 

Washington, citizenship of -- 30 

Washington, demotion of 43 

Washington, enemies of 34 

Washington, personal friends of 34 

Washington, funeral of__-- 44 

Wa'^hington's Headquarters at Gadsby's 24 

Washington's love atfairs -- 30 

"Washington's Own Company," survivors of 22 

Washington's encounter with Payne 21 

Weems, "Parson," and ecclesiastical authorities 17 

Westminster Abbey of Alexandria 29 

Whipping Post, the -- 22 

Wilkes Street named 7 

Woolfe Street named — 7 

Women of Alexandria in Revolution 43 

World War reli^-ious service 4*1 

Zouaves, New York, flight from Bull Run 47 



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